Wednesday, June 2

Art Flash — Scaffolding removed from Parthenon

Photo by Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

News Flash:
In a stunning and unexpected challenge to monotheism, the mortal caretakers of the Parthenon have released the temple and its divine denizens from the scaffolding that has girdled it for the last three decades. A press release from the mono-deity’s public relations office said the Almighty was unconcerned, although monitoring events “on the ground” closely as they unfold. The only witnesses present were a startled group of pilgrims on the 1st Annual Joseph Campbell "Follow Your Bliss Journey”, who had coincidentally just reached the Acropolis when the final blocks of scaffolding were removed. They greeted the news with jubilation, but would not venture an opinion as to its possible significance, instead limiting themselves to the enigmatic observation that “we have stumbled onto our treasure on the pollen path”.

In a related development, there were conflicting claims as to the true origin of the immense thundercloud that was seen gathering over the Acropolis (in photo) soon after the last of the scaffolding was carted away. As the event came on a holiday on Mount Olympus, no official statements could be obtained from any of the twelve Olympians. Initial claims that the menacing cloud was in fact the chariot of Pallas Athena (maiden name Athena Parthenos) readying her triumphal return could not be immediately confirmed. Attempts to reach the goddess’ office in Italy were likewise futile. Reporters spotted a spokes-owl for Minerva on the Capitoline Hill in Rome, but the source declined to comment on the goddess of wisdom’s opinion, saying somewhat scornfully that “all this Athena hooey is Greek to me”.

For full story go to ARTINFO.

14 comments:

  1. I hope there aren't any sudden bolts of lightening!

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  2. Hi, Art. Yes, I hope so, too, although I probably deserve a bolt or two for this post.

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  3. Bada boom.

    (That was lightning.)

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  4. Badoom chssshhhhh - (that was a punchline)

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  5. Hope you will have removed your tongue from your cheek before the lightning strikes! It's good to received a light-hearted news flash.

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  6. Remind me to one day tell you about the "New Hellenic Church." Hehehe.

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  7. so does this mean the end of the world is coming?

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  8. All it needs now is the stolen parts to be returned and all will be well.

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  9. Nice to hear that the Almighty is unconcerned:-)

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  10. Hmmm, thanks for the smile. And coincidentally, I'm reading a Greek YA fiction right now. I'm near the end when Zeus just took his thunderbolt and left Olympus in a huff.

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  11. "Initial claims that the menacing cloud was in fact the chariot of Pallas Athena (aka Athena Parthenos) readying her triumphal return could not be immediately confirmed. Attempts to reach the goddess’ office in Italy were likewise futile"

    :)! Greek indeed. These lines were great. I was so hoping someone would get a hold of her. I always wanted mythology to be true.

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  12. oh dear, coinciding too close to 2012 for comfort... it is nigh.

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  13. This is an "N. C. Wyeth meets Zeus" sky.

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  14. Amy (She Writes), so you have "always wanted mythology to be true"?. Well, what makes you think it isn't? There is a Uruguayan writer who I like, Eduardo Galeano (whose sales and notoriety spiked last year when Venezuelan president Hugo Chaves gave Obama a 1970s book by Galeano called "Open Veins of Latin America). In Galeano's most recent book "Mirrors" he says (I am paraphrasing and translating) "I do not know if the Greek myths were true or not. But that does not matter. What is important is that they are true now".

    I think he is onto something there.

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